The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-24

corner, but that young gentleman was no
where to be seen. After having had such
narrow escape from losing his money, he
had probably started out TO begin his New
Years sport. preferring TO indulge in It q
lew hours too early rather than run the
risk OF missing 1t entirely.
I'll skin through with IL somehow"
Billy muttered to himself as he began to
solicit trade, and in a few moments bust
ness was so fourishing that, for the time
being, he almost forgot the child who was
probably making herself handy" in Gran
ny Browns apartments.
He had been thus engaged nearly an hour
before there was any cessation in trade,
and then 1t was as II every man who passed
had just had his boots polished. No matter
now loudly he shouted, he could not find
another customer, and he was beginning to
think 1t would be better to spend the re-
mainder OF the afternoon visiting his bust.
ness acquaintances for the purpose of 80.
liciting loans in Daisy's behalf than to idle
his time away, when an old gentleman VIII o
had just alighted from farm wagon driven
by two horses asked o policeman:
Where will find the folks what come
in on the cars from Connecticut
"Igucss thatwould be pretty hard work, I"
the officer replied, laughingly, "for no one
would be likely to stay around very long
after the train arrived. II there are any
here they'll probably be in the waiting
room Of the New Haven road"
The old gentleman looked about him for
some moments before he succeeded in as
certaining where this particular room was
located; but after he got one glimpse Of tho
swinging sign he called to Billy:
Say, sonny, jest look out for them horses
mint, will youl'
III Master Jackson had not mot Daisy that
day he would probably have treated the old
gentleman to choice collection of slang,
among which the term Z" hay-seed" would
not have been lacking. A % it was, however,
he had been thinking very earnestly of
farmers and their granddaughters during
the past two or three hours, and he caught
the stranger by the coat as if fearful of
losing him, while he asked eagerly:
''Be you lookin' for little girl named
Daisy Pratti"
''Wa'al, s'posin' l amt" was cautious
question.
"Nothin', only there was one here this
mornin' ownin' that name what had lost
her grandfather, an l thought p'rhaps you
was him."
"Where is she nowa" And the old gen.
tleman looked around suspiciously, US If he
feared that tho boy was trying to play
some trick upon him.
"Down to Granny Browns. I carried her
there till we could get money to buy q
ticket back to her home, cause she didn't
know where her gran father lived.n
''Show me where she is," the old gentle
man cried, excitedly, thrusting his hand
quickly into his pocket, but withdrawing it
q few seconds later as he peered over his
glasses scrutinizingiy at the rather disrep.
utable-looking boy in front of him."
"Granny lives way down on Avenue A.
I'll go with you If you'll give me a chance
to ride"
Fifteen minutes later Daisy was in her
grandfather's arms, and while the old gen.
tleman was lovingly caressing her yellow
curls she told him in detail of her trou bles
after she found herself on the street where
no familiar face was to be seen, as we'll as
OF the helping hand which Billy had ex.
tended.
''pd made up my mind to give you half a
dollar for takin' care of my little Daisy"
Mr.. Pratt said to Billy, after the story was
concluded; ''but I've changed it now.
don't reckon you've got very much except
what you stand in, so it won't take long to
make move. Now If you want to spend
new Years Day down on Cedar Farm,
where you can do any thing that comes
into your head, I'll give you new suit of
clothes. an lug you right along with
Daisy"
Master jackson was not the kind of boy
who would refuse such tempting offer,
for he was not at oil troubled with bashful-
ness, and in less than an hour he was in
the numbering wagon, dressed in what he
called "the swellest of swell Styles" with
every thing new from his hat to his boots.
Billy has not returned from Cedar Farm
yet, and he went there year ago yester-
day. Mr.. Pratt offered to give him fair
wages, in addition to allowing him to at
tend school a certain portion of the time
each year, and he accepted that proposition
as quickly as he did the invitation. He
washes his face two or three times each
day now, has almost forgotten slang, and
is really very we'll aved, gentlemanly-
looking lad.
AS for Jinksey, the whole purpose of this
story he's been to show that he made mis-
take, even though he had what he called o
high old time on New Years Day; and no
one realizes this more fully to-day than he
does, when he thinks of how swell Billy
looked when he saw him last week.-James
Otis, IL Christian Union.